Koroužné: River Landscape and Mining History

Koroužné lies in the Svratka Valley south of Bystřice nad Pernštejnem. Near the village, the river bends from northeast to southwest. The valley and the course of the river give the place a clear landscape orientation; at the same time, traces of mining tell its history. Those choosing Koroužné for a trip will find a range of themes reflected in the landscape and in individual buildings.

The Svratka, Hastrmanka, and local lore

The Svratka is more than just the valley setting: its bend around Koroužné traces the river’s course through the village. About half a kilometre upstream from Koroužné, the Svratka forms the Hastrmanka pool. A local story is also associated with this body of water: according to local lore, Hastrmanka is connected with a water spirit. A distinctive landscape feature and a traditional belief thus stand side by side, without the story needing to be understood as an actual event.

Mining traces and important access restrictions

The Korouženská štola is 104 metres long. Its entrance is about 200 metres northeast of the bridge in Koroužné, at the foot of a steep, wooded slope and on the right-hand side of the road from Koroužné to Vír. The entrance is secured with metal doors; the front section is flooded to a depth of up to one metre. These conditions may change. Check them before visiting rather than planning to enter the adit as an accessible attraction.

Another mining site is Důl sv. Felixe (Zemanovo pole), where remains of silver ore mining have been preserved. These include a shaft depression about ten metres in diameter, the remains of an inclined shaft, and large spoil heaps. The entrances have completely collapsed and are partly filled with waste. When finding your way between the two mining sites, the difference is important: the Korouženská štola has a locked entrance and a flooded front section, while the entrances at Důl sv. Felixe have collapsed. These conditions mean you should not assume that the underground areas can be entered.

Educational trail and cultural heritage in Švařec

The Svratecká water management trail runs from Dalečín through the Svratka Valley to Švařec. After the section by the Vír II Reservoir, it passes through Koroužné and Švařec. This distinguishes the longer route through the valley from the specifically mentioned section through the two villages. If you plan to include the trail in your itinerary, check local trail conditions before setting out.

In Švařec stands the Chapel of the Holy Trinity (Nejsvětější Trojice), originally a miners’ place of worship dating from the 13th century. It has survived to the present day with only a few later structural alterations and is a state-protected immovable cultural monument. The chapel is considered a unique example of vernacular sacred architecture and is closely connected with local mining. Its significance therefore brings together architectural history and mining tradition, without requiring a visit inside.

The covered wooden bridge near Švařec offers another tangible architectural feature: it is 22 metres long and two metres wide, and was repaired in 1982. It is considered to be in good technical condition at present; check its condition before your visit. The precise dimensions make the bridge easy to picture as a structure, while the chapel is defined above all by its history and sacred architecture.

Landscape protection near Švařec

The Švařec National Nature Monument protects a valuable complex of submontane meadows and pastures on the right bank of the Brťovský potok near Švařec. Scattered junipers grow there on a steep south-facing slope in the Svratka Valley. This protected landscape adds a distinct natural aspect to the themes of the river and mining. Together, these sites offer different points of interest for planning a trip: the river landscape around Koroužné, preserved mining traces, and the chapel, bridge, and protected landscape near Švařec.

Discover more destinations: Herálec, Otín, Radostín Nad Oslavou, Nové Veselí, Lísek, Uhřínov, Poděšín, Jimramov.

For the broader travel overview: Žďár Nad Sázavou District.